Page 10 of Drawn to the Mountain Man

“Thank you,” Colton said as he stepped up to the microphone. He was holding one of the plaques that Ashley had been giving out to sales reps. “I don’t know anything about makeup, as you can tell, but I do know a hardworking person when I see her. I also know just how incredible this particular award winner is. Apparently, she has sold more than anyone so far this year. She also gave all of us a bit of a scare this morning.”

He glanced over at me, and everybody laughed. Eyes turned toward me. People knew exactly who he was talking about.

“I happen to be in love with the woman who won this award, so if she will agree, this will be her new territory.”

We didn’t have territories, and everyone in the room knew it. But hell if anyone was going to correct him on that. Everyone was too caught up in what was happening here. Especially me.

“Let’s all give a big round of applause for Olivia Vargas, the top Glamour Diva salesperson in the country.”

Applause rang out all around as I froze. I knew I was supposed to be standing and walking in that direction, but I couldn’t seem to get myself to move. Luckily, Marlowe was seated next to me and all too eager to help. She gave me a nudge, then reached over like she was about to shove my seat back for me.

That was when I finally got my body to move. I pushed myself to my feet and started toward the front. Toward the man I was going to spend the rest of my life with.

This was where I planned to take the award and give a speech, maybe even look directly at the women who’d gossiped about me. I’d written a quick acceptance speech on a sticky note I’d found behind the reception desk in the lobby while I was waiting to talk to the police officer.

But I didn’t give a crap about the award—not when this man had just confessed his love in front of everybody in the room. Not when I could rise on tiptoe, give him a big kiss, and feel his arms around me while the applause swelled.

Yes, Colton was definitely the real prize.

EPILOGUE

COLTON

It took a real man to sit still while his daughters covered his face in makeup. That was what I told myself as my wife entered the kitchen to find our nine-year-old spreading blush over my entire face with the biggest brush in her mom’s makeup kit.

“What on earth?” Olivia asked as she stopped in the doorway. She looked from Tate to me and back again. “Did you get into Mommy’s supplies?”

“Yep,” Tate said, not embarrassed about it for a second. “I gave Daddy a makeover.”

The look I shot Olivia was a plea for help. It was done with pure humor, though. As goofy as I no doubt looked, it brought a smile to my daughter’s face, and I’d do just about anything to get that response.

“You go get your sister,” Olivia said to Tate. “We’re going out for dinner.”

“Can we have tacos? Pretty, pretty please.”

The Mexican restaurant was Tate’s favorite, and Olivia’s too. I preferred the steakhouse or a cheeseburger at the diner downtown, but whatever my girls wanted, they got.

“We sure can, if it’s okay with your dad,” Olivia said, looking over at me, her eyebrows arched.

As if I could say no. But there were worse fates to be resigned to than steak fajitas from the town’s only Mexican restaurant.

With a big “Yay,” Tate tossed the brush on the table and rushed from the room to do exactly as her mom had asked.

I picked up the brush and slipped it into the container with all the other brushes. We’d set up a full makeup station on the kitchen table after Tate begged me all afternoon to do my makeup.

“I guess I need to wash my face,” I said, pushing away from the table and standing. “Can’t go out in public looking like this.”

“Not if you want to be seen with me,” Olivia said.

“Or the kids.”

She laughed. Our kids were embarrassed to be seen with us in the best of conditions.

“I guess going out in public with makeup on would probably cure Tate of ever wanting to do something like that again,” I said.

Olivia winced. “Sorry about that.”

I shook my head and walked toward her, putting my arms around her. “I don’t mind at all. It was a fun afternoon.”

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